Shock absorber



July 20, 1937. E. F. RossMAN ET AL 2,087,451

SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Dec. 13, 1935 2 Sheets-SheetI 1 Ilm v l xNvEN'roRs 2 E .3 FREDERICK D. FUNSTON Iy. y' www F. lossmAN ATTORNEYS July 20 1937- E. F. RossMAN ET AL 2,087,451

SHOCK ABSORBER Filed Dec. 13, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNvEN oRs FREDEPICK D. F NSTON o 5 N EDMYN F R 5 MA ATTORNEYS Patented July 20, 1937 SHOCK ABSORBER.

Edwin F. Rossman and Frederick D. Funston, Dayton, Ohio, assignors to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation 'of Delaware Application December 13, 1935, Serial No. 54,158

Claims. (Cl. 18S-88) This invention relates to an improved form of direct-acting hydraulic shock absorbers.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a direct-acting hydraulic shock .absorber with fluid flow control devices of simple construction, which are adapted to 'control the circulation of fluid within the shock absorber so that it will properly control both the approaching and separating movements of the axle and frame of the vehicle between which said shock absorber is directly mounted.

A further object of the present invention isto provide the shock absorber piston with a single valve member capable of two distinct actions.

' One valve action permits a substantially free ow of fluid through the piston as it moves in one direction, the other valve action permitting a restricted iiow of fluid through the piston as it moves in the opposite direction.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is afragmentary side view of a vehicle chassis having a shock absorber equipped with the present invention attached thereto. The wheel of the vehicle has been omitted for the sake of clearness;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the shock absorber, certain parts being shown in elevation in order more clearly to illustrate them;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View showing the construction of the fluid ilow control devices of the shock absorber in their normal position;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3, and shows the fluid flow control'devices in the posi- `tions assumed as the piston moves downwardly in the shock absorber;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 3 and 5. Here the fluid-flow control devices are shown in the positions assumed as the piston moves upwardly; and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the fluid flow control device of the piston in the position its assumes when excessively high fluid pressures are attained as the piston moves upwardly.

The shock absorber comprises a tubular member providing the working cylinder of the device. The upper end of this cylinder fits upon a flange 2|, of the upper head member 22, the lower end of said cylinder fitting into a recess formed in the lower head member 23. Another tubular member 24 surrounds the working cylinder 20, the ends of this tubular member 24 fitting upon the heads 22 and 23 and being .Welded thereto so as to fixedly hold the two cylinders 20 and 24, and the heads 22 and 23 in assembled relation. This tubular member 24 provides the reservoir 25 which is the space surrounding ,the working cylinder 20.

Within the cylinder there is providei a piston 3B attached to one end of the piston rod 3| which is slidably supported in a bearing 32 carried in the cylinder head 22.. The cylinder head 22 as shown in Figure 1 is recessed to receive a packing for preventing the escape of any fluid that might leak past the shaft bearing 32. Any suitable type of packing may be used about the shaft 3|. In the present instance, however, there is shown a collar 33 fitted snugly within the recess 34 of the head 22. This collar has a packing element 35 carried within it, which frictionally engages the shaft 3|. In order to maintain this frictional engagement of packing 35 with the shaft, there is provided a pressure plate 35 having an inwardly sloping surface engaging the end of the packing 35. This pressure plate is maintained in constant engagement with the packing 35 by a spring v37, interposed between the lower surface of the recess 34 and the pressure plate 36. Openings 38 in the head provide communication between the recess 34 and the reservoir 25 so that in case liquid escapes through the shaft bearing 32, it is wiped from the shaft by the packing member 35, urged against said shaft by the plate 36 and its spring 3l, this liquid then dropping into the bottom of the recess from where it may return to the reservoir via the passage 38.

The outer end of the shaft 3| has a plate or disc 40 secured thereto, to which is secured a fixture 4| in any suitable manner. In the present instance this fixture is shown welded to the disc 40, as at 42. Thexture, as shown in Figure 2, receives a rubber grommet 43 through which extends the bolt 44, shown in dotted lines, said bolt being a part of bracket 45 attached to the frame 46 of the vehicle. This presents a yieldably, hinged connection between the piston rod 3| of the shock absorber and the frame 45 of the vehicle. One end of a tubular member 41 is secured to the disc 40 in a manner so that said tubular member 41- is substantially coaxial of the tubular members 20 and 24. The tubular member 41 is of such length that when the shock absorber is entirely collapsed, as shown in Figure 2, that is, where the piston is positioned at the extreme lower end of the cylinder, the bottom end of said tubular member 41 is located within a short distance of the bottom end of the tubular member 24. This member 41 forms a dust cover for the shock absorber substantially preventing dust or grit from accumulating at the exposed part of the piston shaft at kthe upper end of the shock absorber.

As shown in the various gures, the lower cylinder head, or end member 23, is interiorly threaded so as to receive the threaded end of the lower mounting xture 58, which, as shown Ain Figure 2, receives a rubber grommet 5| adapted to fit over a stud provided on the lower mounted bracket 52. As shown in Figure 1, this lower mounted bracket is attached to the axle 53 of the vehicle which axle supports the vehicle spring 54 hinged at its respective ends to the vehicle frame 45. Thus it may be seen that the housing or cylinder portion of the shock absorber is secured to the axle While the piston and its shaft is secured to the frame of the vehicle and consequently any relative movements between the frame and axle of the vehicle will result in relative movement between the piston and cylinder of the shock absorber.

Referring particularly to Figure 3, it may be seen that the end of the lower mounting xture 58 threadedly received by the lower cylinder head 23 is recessed, as at 55. A cross passage 56 is also provided in this xture, said cross passage communicating with passages 51 in the lower cylinder head 23. Passages 58 in the xture connect the recessed portion 55 with the transverse or cross passage 56 so that by means o1' these various passages 51, 56 and 58 communication between the reservoir 25 and the lower iluld displacement chamber 68 of the shock'absorber is provided. Another communication between the recess 55 and the transverse passage 56 is provided by vthe interiorly threaded central opening 6| in the xture 58 which receives the screw plug 62\having a 'through passage provided with a restricted throat portion 63. This opening 6| extends into the main body portion of the fixture 58 to provide a recess 64 which forms a housing for the pressure relief valve 65 urged by spring 66 against the plug 62 normally to close its central passage. 'I'his valve 65 is adapted to be moved from engagement with the plug 62 to permit a uid ow through its restricted throat portion when a predetermined uld pressure is established within the fluid displacement chamber 68 in response to downward movement o! the piston 38.

The openings 58 are normally closed by a disc valve 18 yieldably urged into a closed position by a spring 1| interposed between the disc valve and the head of the screw plug 62. This valve 18 may be termed the intake valve for it is adapted to be lifted to open passages 58 and thus permit a substantially unrestricted ilow of fluid to enter the chamber 68 from the reservoir 25 in response to upward movements of the piston 38.

As shown in Figures 3, 5, 6 and '1, thepiston 38 is recessed as at 88. The bottom wall of ythis recess in the piston'has openings 8| providing for the transfer of :duid from one side o1' the piston to the other in response to its reciprocation. The piston-rod 3| has a reduced diameter portion 82 adjacent vthe end secured to the pison this reduced portion 82. These spaced annular flanges 83 and 84 provide bearings upon which a collar 85 is slidably supported, the end of this collar more remote from the inner end of the piston having an annular iiange 86. The outer end of the recess 88 of the piston is counterbored as at 81 to receive a ringl 88 which ts snugly into this counterbored portion 31. Ring 88 is of such a width that when fitted into the counterbored portion 81 of the piston its outer edge 88a will be flush with the outer edge 38a of the piston. 'I'his is clearly shown in Figure 5. Spaced notches 98 are provided in this outer edge of the ring 88. The inner peripheral edge of the counterbore portion 81 on the pistonis cut away to provide a sloping face 9|. ,'I'hus, an annular groove 92 is formed between the outer edge of the piston 38 and the ring 88 tting in its counterbored portion 81. The notches 98 communicate with this annular groove 92. In Figures 3, 5 and 6, it may be seen thatthis annular groove 92 is triangular in cross section.

A disc valve |88 is centrally apertured to nt about the collar or sleeve 85. This valve |88 is yieldably urged to engage the outer, concentric edges 38a and 88a of the piston 38 and the ring 88 respectively by the spring |8| interposed between said valve 88 and the shoulder formed on the rod 3| by the smaller diameter portion 82.' The end of the sleeve or collar 85 adjacent the head of the piston 38 has an abutment collar |83 which is engaged by one end of the spring |84, the other end of said'spring engaging the valve |88 and holding it against the` inner edge of the ange 86 on sleeve or collar 85. This spring is so constructed that it does not urge the valve |88 against the flange 86 with any great pressure, the

spring being so made that it merely holds said valve against said ange.

An opening or notch 85a is provided in the collar 85, forming an orlce through which an initial, restricted ow of iluid is permitted as thepiston is reciprocated and before the valve |88 is moved by iluid pressure out of its normal position. l

The afore-described shock absorber functions in the following manner: when the wheels of the vehicle strike an obstruction in the roadway the axle 53 is thrust upwardly toward the frame 45, causing a downward movement of the piston 38 relatively to the cylinder 28. As the piston moves downwardly in the cylinder 28l it exerts pressure upon the fluid within the lower displacement chamber 68, causing thevalve |88 and its sleeve 85 to be moved upwardly so that the valve |88 is lifted from engagement with the outer edges of the piston 38 and its ring 88. as shown in Figure 5. This permits a substantially free ow of fluid from the lower displacement chamber-68 through the piston passages 8| and recess 88, past the valve |88 into the upper iluid displacement chamber |58 of the shock absorber. The entire tluid displacement from chamber 68 can not be received by the upper chamber |58 due to the presence of the piston rod 3| in said chamber |58. Consequently, this excess uid, not adapted to be received by chamber |58 will be urged through the restricted throat portion 83 in the plug 62, exertingv a pressure upon the valve 65 which causes it to be moved out of engagement with the plug and thus providing for a dow of uid from the restricted throat portion 63, past valve 65 into the transverse passage 66, thence through the ducts or passages 61 in the cylinder head 23, into the reservoir 26. This restriction to the flow of uid from the chamber 60 by the restricted throat portion 63 will cause the shock absorber to provide resistance to the approaching movement of the axle 53 toward the frame 45 in response to the striking of an obstruction or bump in the roadway.

The spring 54 of the vehicle will move the axle 53 -awayfrom the frame 45 with a rebounding movement, thus causing the piston 30 to move upwardly relatively to the cylinder 20 and consequently exerting pressure upon the fluid in the upper fluid displacement chamber |50. This uid pressure exerted upon the valve will urge it against the edge of the piston and its inner ring 88, said fluid pressure when attaining a predetermined value causing the disc valve |00 to flex, as shown in Figure 6. This initial ilexure will not compress spring |04 to any appreciable degree due to the fact that sleeve 85 will slide downwardly on piston-rod 3| until it engages the piston head as shown in Figure 6. Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that the flexing of valve |00 really moves the valve |00 about the inner peripheral edge of the ring 88 so that the outer peripheral edge of the valve |00 is lifted out of engagement withv the edge of the lpiston 30, thereby uncovering the annular groove 92 and consequently permitting -a restricted flow of fluid from chamber. |50 past the edge of valve |00 into the annular groove 92 and thencethrough the spaced notches 90 in the ring 88, into the interior of piston from whence the fluid will flow through piston passage 8| into the lower displacement ohamber S8. Under these circumstances the fluid displaced from chamber |50 through the groove 92 into the chamber 6|) will not be sufficient to ll the chamber 60 as said piston moves upwardly and consequently valve 'l0 will be lifted into the position as shown in Figure 6, thereby permitting a substantially unrestricted ow of fluid from the reservoir -25 through passage 51, 56 and 58 into the lower displacement chamber 60 to compensate for this deficiency and assure a full lower chamber at the end of the upward stroke of the piston.

If for any reason the fluid pressure in the upper displacement chamber |50 becomes excessive, the disc valve |00 will be flexed to a greater degree than described above, this further flexing of the discvalve compressing'spring |04. This is clearly illustrated in Figure l7 where it is shown that spring |04 in being compressed opposes the flexing of the disc valve |00 beyond a predetermined point, or more specifically beyond the point of flexure as shown in Figure 6. Naturally, the position of the disc valve |00, as shown in Figure 7, will cause the fluid flow through piston 23 to be less restricted and thereby more completely relieve the excessive pressure in the chamber |50.

While the form of embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a pref ferred form, it is to be understood that other flexed to disengage a portion of said member from the piston for permitting a flow of fluid through the piston passage in the other direction.

2. A hydraulic shock absorber comprising in combination, a cylinder; a piston forming two uid displacement chambers within the cylinder,

said piston having a passage providing for the A.

transfer of uid between said chambers; anda member, normally engaging said piston, but adapted to be moved bodily from engagement with the piston to permit a substantially unrestricted ow of iluid through said piston passage in one direction, and also adapted to be urged against the piston and be flexed tolift the peripheral edge of said member from the piston for permitting a restricted flow of fluid through the piston passage in the otherv direction.

3. A hydraulic shook absorber comprising in combination, a cylinder; a piston forming two fluid displacement chambers within the cylinder, said piston having a passage providing for the transfer of fluid between said chambers; and a disc, yieldably urged normally to engage said piston, said disc being adapted to be lifted bodily disc, yieldably urged normally to engage said piston, said disc being adapted to be lifted bodily from the piston to permit a substantially unrestricted flow of uid through the piston passagev in one direction and to be urged against the piston and be flexed to permit a restricted flow of fluid through said piston passage in the other direction.

5. A hydraulic shock absorber comprising in combination, a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder, said piston having a passage providing for the transfer of fluid from one side of the piston to the other, thev piston having also two concentrically arranged valve-seat portions spaced to provide an annular chamber therebetween, the inner valveseat having spaced notches; and a member yieldably urged to seat upon both valve-seat portions, normally substantially to close the piston passage, said member being movable bodily from both seat portions of the piston, to permit a substantially freeow of fluid through the piston passage in one direction, and being adapted to be urged against the piston and be flexed, whereby said member, pivoting on one seat portion, will lift from the other seat portion to permit a restricted flow of fluid through the notches in the one seat portion and through the piston in the opposite direction.

6. A hydraulic shock absorber comprising in combination, a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder forming two fluid displacement chambers therein, said piston having a fluid passage; and a single element normally substantially closing said passage and adapted to be moved bodily to permit a substantially unrestricted flow of uid through the piston as it moves in one direction and to be distorted from its normal shape to provide for a restricted flow through the piston as it moves in the opposite direction.

'7. A hydraulic shock absorber comprising in combination, a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder, forming two fluid displacement chambers therein, said piston having a fluid passage; and a disc, normally engaging the piston and bodily movable oil' the piston to establish a substantially free flow and adapted to be distorted to establlsh a restricted flow of fluid through the piston.

8. A hydraulic shock absorber comprising, in combination, a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder forming two fluid displacement chambers therein, said piston having a fluid passage; a fluid reservoir; oppositely acting fluid flow control means adapted to regulate the transfer of fluid between the reservoir and one of the displacement chambers; and a single member, normally substantially closing the piston passage, but adapted to provide for a fluid flow through said piston substantially concurrently with the opening of either of the fluid flow control means.

9. A hydraulic shock absorber comprising in combination, a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder forming two fluid displacement chambers therein, said piston having a fluid passage; a fluid reservoir communicating with one of said displacement chambers through two passages; valves normally closing said passages, one valve adapted to permit fluid to flow from the reservoir into said chamber the other from the chamber into the reservoir; and a single valve normally substantially closing the piston passage, but adapted to permit a fluid flow through the piston concurrently with the opening of either of the first-mentioned valves.

'10. A hydraulic shock vabsorber comprising, in combination, za cylinder; a piston in said cylinder forming two fluid displacement chambers therein, said piston having a fluid passage; a fluid reservoir communicating with one of said displacement chambers through two passages; valves normally closing said passages, one valve adapted to per- `mit a substantially unrestricted flow vof fluid from the reservoir into the one chamber, the other valve being adapted to permit a restricted ow of fluid from said chamber into the reservoir; and a disc valve normally engaging the piston, adapted to be actuated to provide a fluid flow restricting orifice in the pistonconcurrently with the unrestricted flow of fluid from the reservoir into said chamber and adapted to permit a substantially unrestricted flow of fluid through 'the piston concurrently with the restricted flow of uid from .said chamber into the reservoir.

other of said passages and adapted'to provide.

ber into the reservoir as the piston moves in the opposite direction; and a disc valve yieldably urged against the piston, said disc valve' being adapted to be lifted from the piston to permit a substantially free flow of fluid through the pis'- ton passage concurrently with the opening oi.' the pressure release valve and being adapted to be urged against the piston and be flexed to provide for a restricted flow of fluid through the piston passage concurrently with the opening of the intake valve.

l2. A hydraulic shock absorber comprising, in combination, a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder, having a passage providing for the transfer of fluid from one side of the piston to the other; a disc valve normally engaging said piston, said disc valve being adapted to be lifted from the piston to provide for a substantially free flow of fluid through the piston passage and adapted to be flexed to provide for a restricted flow of fluid through said passage; and means adapted to be engaged by thedisc-valve when flexed to a predetermined position, saidmeans resisting further flexing of said disc-valve.

13. A hydraulic shock absorber comprising, in combination, a -cylinder; a piston in said cylinder, having a passage providing for the transfer of fluid from one side of the piston to the other; a disc-valve normally engaging said piston, said disc-valve being adapted to be lifted bodily`from the piston to provide for a substantially free flow of fluid through the piston passage and adapted to be flexed to provide for a restricted flow of fluid through said passage; and a spring adapted to be engaged by the flexing disc-valve to resist its flexing beyond a predetermined point.

14. A hydraulic shock absorber comprising, in combination, a cylinder; a piston in said cylinder, having a. passage providing for the transfer of fluid from one side of the piston to the other; a disc-valve normally engaging said piston, said disc-valve being adapted to be lifted bodily from the piston to provide for a substantially free flow of fluid through the `piston passage and adapted to be flexed to provide for a restricted flow of fluid through said passage; and a spring engaging each side of said disc-valve,A the lighter spring urging said disc-valve upon the piston, the heavier spring being adapted to oppose the flexing of said disc-valve beyond a predetermined point.

15. A hydraulic shock absorber comprising, in combination, a cylinder; a pistonin sai'd cylinder, having a passage providing for the transfer of fluid from one side of the piston to the other;

a piston rod; a flanged collar slidable on said rod; a disc-valve fitting about said collar; an abutment secured adjacent the end of the collar opposite the flange; a spring interposedbetween said abutment and disc-valve, urging the latter against the flange of the collar; said spring opposing flexing of said disc-valve; and a lighter spring urging the disc-valve upon the piston to close its passage.

EDWIN F. ROSSMAN. 'FREDERICK D. FUNSTOM 

